Shopping for a car includes many decisions, including when to shop. Holidays are often the best times because people tend to be away, not flocking to dealerships. Whether you’re looking for a new or used car, holiday weekends may be the best times to find a good deal. Continue reading to learn more about why you should plan your car shopping for a long weekend.
What Is the Best Time to Buy a Car?
Three-day weekends tend to be the best times to buy a car. While December is the best month to buy a car, as dealers are clearing the way for next year’s inventory, other good times to consider car shopping include Memorial Day, Labor Day, President’s Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Then again, you’re also likely to score a great discount on Black Friday and New Year’s Eve. New Year’s combines the perks of being the end of the month and end of the year while holiday incentives often continue for a couple of days after.
Why Holiday Weekends Are a Great Time to Shop for Cars
Knowing business may be slow, dealerships provide sales to keep business going and to clear out excess inventory. There’s always pressure to make room for the latest upcoming models, not to mention hit sales targets. You may therefore find a sales event or other incentive related to buying a vehicle from the outgoing model year. New-model-year vehicles often start arriving in the fall; the later in the year it gets, the more eager dealers are to sell off earlier inventory.
The bottom line is—if you’re looking for the best discount, you’ll find the best opportunities on holidays and three-day weekends, or towards the end of the year.
Holiday Weekend Car Shopping Tips
Shopping on holiday weekends will help you save money if you are prepared. Here are some tips to creating your shopping plan during these times:
- Research: Do your research on the cars that interest you, from reading reviews to taking test drives. Build your short list and contact the dealership to make sure the vehicle is in stock and whether better deals may be available.
- Budget: Determine what you can afford per month. This is a good place to start so you can figure out a total price that makes sense. Consider any down payment that is required or what your current vehicle’s trade-in value is. Insurance, fuel, and maintenance costs should be considered too.
- Schedule your visit: The incentives dealerships offer tend to be successful. The showroom may be very busy, so set up an appointment, preferably for early in the day. Any later and long waits can be stressful. You can save even more time by getting preapproved for a loan in advance, which streamlines the financing process at the dealership.
However, don’t feel pressured to make your purchase if you’re not ready. Great deals can be found on holiday weekends, but you can save at other times by planning ahead, doing your research, and negotiating.
Contact Hawthorne Auto Square
At our Hawthorne car dealership, we are open and serving customers. Our buy here pay here financing and other deals can help you save during the holidays and all year long. Sedans, trucks, SUVs, and premium luxury cars are available in our extensive inventory. We are serving customers throughout the Los Angeles area during the coronavirus pandemic, practicing the latest recommendations for social distancing, mask-wearing, and sanitation. Schedule your visit today by calling us at 866-707-7664.